The Tigers announced that they’ve claimed right-hander David McKay off waivers from the Mariners and optioned him to Triple-A Toledo. The move fills Detroit’s 40-man roster.
McKay, 24, made his big league debut with Seattle earlier this season, tossing seven innings out of the bullpen. He was tagged for four runs on five hits and eight walks with five strikeouts in that time, continuing to display the control problems that began to plague him upon reaching Triple-A this season.
McKay logged 43 2/3 innings with Seattle’s Tacoma affiliate but struggled to a 5.15 ERA with 31 walks and 10 hit batsmen in that time. While that’s obviously an ugly line, McKay also racked up an eye-popping 71 strikeouts in that time (14.63 K/9). Control wasn’t an alarming issue for him prior to this season, and he punched out 85 hitters in 59 1/3 innings a season ago when topping out in Double-A, so the Tigers will try their hand at sorting out his location issues. McKay averaged 93 mph on his fastball in his brief big league time this season and drew a plus grade on his slider in MLB.com’s scouting report on him. He lacks a third average pitch, though, making him a rather clear-cut bullpen prospect.
Almost every single number listed here for this guy is fascinating.
They are determined to continue tanking.
Are you disappointed they didn’t sign Kimbrel and stay out of dead last? This is what rebuilding teams do…try to find warm bodies until the future arrives, and maybe find a diamond on the rough.
I’m not disappointed at all. Kimbrel wouldnt have a job because there will be so few 9th inning leads to protect. But I would like to see them try and pick up major league players instead of the garbage they’ve collected.
This guys 24. He could be a piece for the future if they get his location back in line. His strike out numbers were very high.
This won’t hurt them in any way…they’re so bad that taking a flier on anyone wouldn’t hurt them. They’ll be terrible for at least two more seasons after this one.
They will have all terrible seasons until Cabrera retires.
MLB Pipeline ranks the Tigers farm 6th. Future is bright?
Its only bright IF Avila hits on his drafts. He has until 2022 to get back to respectability. Chris Illitch does not seem to have the stomach to change anything that would effect Mike Ilitch’s legacy. This means, he probably not change the dimensions of Comerica and he will probably not buy out Cabrera. Tigers have lost money for the past 7 years so I am sure Chris doesn’t care about winning only the bottom line.
This is probably what Chris Illitch is going for so he can sell the team in 2025.
Uh, … pitching is coming up in 2021. Hitting will need to be purchased.
Mmm…ckay
The Tigers have actually done really well with the waiver wire and rule 5 pick ups but unfortunately, when your free agent pick ups are among the worst the last 3 years, you can only be so happy. Al Avila is basically fielding a team of rookies and 4A players until his drafted players start to come up. Next Spring could see 4 rookies make the team and when you add up the rest of the starting line ups, you will probably only have one guy over 3 years of experience. Cabby and he’s at DH.